Favourites on Friday

I'm (long-term) borrowing my mum's sewing machine to do some wedding decorations, and I've been itching to get started on some other sewing projects as well. I think my mum must've tried about a hundred times when I was young to teach me to sew, but I never could find the patience to complete the things I started (namely because some problem or other happened that I couldn't work out, like the entire fabric got jammed and broke the needle, twisted the thread into a knot and made the smooth ends all jagged).

But I think (at least I hope)  that my patience and willingness to persevere have improved somewhat over the years, and that tackling the sewing machine now will be a whole nother story.

I stumbled across Burda's web site and they have a tutorial on how to get started -  read it here.

So my goal this weekend is to befriend the sewing machine and maybe end up with something finished! Like these drawstring bags?

Ph: BurdaStyle

Postcards - Heart series

gift wrapping

As pretty as some christmas gift wrapping paper might be, it's awfully bad for the environment. All the chemicals that go into making these glossy, colourful wrappings - thinking about it makes me shudder (although these colourful wrappings below are vintage, and probably a little bit more eco- friendly!) Instead, why not use non-bleached, brown paper, and add your own decorations to it! Like my friend Åshild does. It's a lot more personal, it's more eco-friendly, and it looks prettier too.

Ph: Åshild

Favourites on Friday

Last night me and a friend decided to have a christmas decorations workshop. We ended up making cards - so much fun! Why not take a couple of hours off during the weekend to make some lovely cards for your family and friends ...

Christmas decorations

I'd be happy to let Quotes and Notes do my christmas decorations! Check out her Etsy shop. 
... and BiscuitScout has made a chair that seems perfect for this time of year!

Ph: Quotes and Notes plus BiscuitScout

Making wedding invitations

It's coming along!

Wedding project #1

I've started on the first of...well many, wedding projects! It's good to get a head start. I'm making fabric garlands to decorate the inside of the tent. I found the inspiration from another wedding in San Fransisco, featured in Martha Stuart Wedding in the Spring issue.

Ph: Private & Martha Stewart Weddings

Inspiring blogs #2

Casey Brown is a girl blogging from Florida, check out her amazing vintage sewing projects on Elegant Musings. Every time I read her blog I feel like taking up sewing again. Then I look at my mum's sewing machine and remember the boiling frustration over fabric that wouldn't lay still/thread that wouldn't behave/needle that broke every other time/uneven seam lines and weird lumps and creases on the miserable end product, and I come to my senses.
Her blog is also a vintage haven of inspiration, and the weekly inspiration board called "Flickr favorites" is a flat down treat!

Photos: Elegant Musings